Description:This resource includes information about the 2013 Policy Academy Webinar Series presented by SAMHSA’s Homeless and Housing Resource Network and includes information on how to request webinar presentation materials.

Content:

Louisiana: Using a Statewide Coordinated Assessment in HMIS to End Chronic Homelessness (September 19, 2013)

Louisiana is concentrating its efforts on matching supportive services with permanent housing within a very short timeframe. A statewide Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) makes it possible to screen and assess individuals for service needs and to prioritize the most vulnerable for housing placement. An assessment tool and a vulnerability index tool are being selected and will be utilized statewide in partnership with Continuums of Care. Vulnerability scores will be recorded and continuously updated, and homeless and disability status verified and documented. Challenges and barriers in both urban and rural areas will be discussed. In addition, a representative of Unity of Greater New Orleans will describe its recent experience in the “Boot Camp” sponsored by Community Solutions in partnership with the Rapid Results Institute.

Washington State plans to use data to identify chronically homeless individuals through both the state’s HMIS and through an integrated client database developed and maintained by the Department of Social and Health Services in Washington state (WA-DSHS) Research and Data Analysis Division. The presentation will describe three different models of “data sharing” currently used to serve high-risk populations in Washington State. They include (1) a county-wide database of “high utilizers” of crisis services in King County, which facilitates entry into housing, services, and supports; (2) the Benefits Verification System, which is a web-based eligibility database housing providers can access to find out whether their clients are enrolled in cash or medical assistance programs that qualify them for specific housing programs; and (3) a web-based predictive modeling tool—the Predictive Risk Intelligence SysteM (PRISM)—developed for care management with high-risk Medicaid clients who have chronic medical conditions. For authorized users, PRISM provides timely, actionable information to improve health service delivery.

The Policy Academy presents a unique opportunity to create new partnerships (interagency, federal, local, and private) around a common agenda to reduce the number of persons experiencing chronic homelessness in California. State leaders will highlight short-term shifts in policy and practice (aka “low-hanging fruit”) as well as emergent opportunities for deeper collaboration in three key areas of the state’s strategic plan: Mainstream Resources (expanding outreach/enrollment for homeless people who will be newly eligible for Medi-Cal and using changing benefits to provide behavioral health services); Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) (increasing access for chronically homeless persons to existing PSH and using anticipated new funding); and Re-Tooling the Crisis Response System.

Georgia: Building a System of Housing and Care to Prevent Chronic Homelessness (October 10, 2013)

The state will address several key systemic elements that must be addressed to prevent chronic homelessness. These include prioritizing existing resources to meet the current needs using housing first/harm reduction strategies, mainstream service resources, and existing housing capacity; rebuilding state leadership to address chronic homelessness; building an effective institutional discharge planning system; using HMIS and integrated systems data; and integrating promising approaches to develop a viable long-term housing strategy that honors housing choice for those who are most “at risk” of becoming “chronically homeless.”

PATH encourages discussion about the future of homelessness services in America. We invite your participation to ensure that a broad range of providers serving those experiencing homelessness are represented.

You will encounter opinions and perspectives from varied sources. These may not reflect the views of Homelessness Resource Center, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, the Institute on Homelessness and Trauma or any other partner organization.

Be Respectful: We welcome your participation, but any comments that contain vulgar or offensive language, personal attacks, are wildly off-topic or otherwise inappropriate will be removed immediately and the offending party risks losing the ability to participate.

If You See Something Inappropriate, Report It: You may report any comment as inappropriate. Reported comments are immediately removed, pending review, so please report responsibly. The Federal Government and the Institute on Homelessness and Trauma have sole discretion in determining what is and what is not appropriate.

Don’t Include Personal Contact Information: To protect yourself and the privacy of others, please do not include phone numbers, e-mail addresses, or other personally identifying information in your comments. Such material will be removed from the site.

Do Not Request Services: This site is for the exchange of ideas and information regarding service delivery to those experiencing homelessness. It is not an appropriate location to request services or make referrals.